Typographical machine.



E. W. PIERSON.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MAOHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1914 1,1%9,1 Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETSr-SHEET E. W. PIERSON.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED NOV.16, 1914.

LIQQfiQl Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIII/ EDWIN W. PIERSON, 0F NEWARK,,NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OE NEW YORK.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed November 16, 1914. Serial No. 872,279.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN W. PIERsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typographical Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to typographical machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States No. 36,532, to O. Mergenthaler, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print, delivered through a throat or passage into the assembler and there arranged in line, the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started.

More particularly, it relates to the throat or channel through which the matrices pass on their way to the assembler, and provides means whereby its Width may be varied to accommodate matrices of different thicknesses.

In the ordinary construction of the commercial linotype machine, the matrices are delivered to a belt, and pass therefrom into the assembler through a throat or channel constituted at one side by the so-called assembler spring and on the other side by the assembler. rails. It frequently happens that when matrices of different thicknesses are employed in the same machine, ranging for instance from six-point condcnsed to very extended or wide faces such as eighteen to thirty-six-point expanded, it is found necessary to change the Width of the throat, as if it be too wide, thin matrices are not properly guided therethrough, and if too narrow, thick matrices are arrested therein. Specifically, I have provided means whereby the spring may be adjusted to any desired position to correspond with the matrices in use, and by way of illustration I have shown these means as operated not only automatically but also manually, and so as to adapt them both to machines containing a plurality of fonts or magazines, and also to machines having a single font.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention only in preferred form and by way of example, and as applied to the commercial Model 9 linotype, such as is presented in United States Letters Patent to J. R. Rogers, No. 848,771, the parts being so arranged that as one or another magazine is called into action, the position of the spring and the width of the channel Will be adjusted to correspond to the matrices contained therein. In another form I have shown the means arranged so as to be capable only of manual adjustment. Obviously, many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of application, which will still be comprised within its spirit. Similarly, it may be adapted to other forms of typpographical machines, such as typesetters, typecasters and the like, which handle type or dies, instead of matrices. Generally speaking, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims. 7

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of a portion of a linotype machine, with my invention embodied therein; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the improvements themselves; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 illustrates manual means for effecting the adjustment: and Fig. 5 is a section on. the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;.

Referring to the drawings, the matrices X are as usual stored in the stationary magazines A, fromv the selected one of which they are released by the manipulation of the keyboard B and delivered to the assembler belt C, from which in turn they pass into the assembler D. wherein the line is composed. The means for selecting the desired magazine A and calling it into action, comprise the sliding front E, which is connected to the handle F and moved "ertically thereby. As the matrices leave the belt and are transferred to the assembler, they pass through a throat or channel constituted on one side by the rails G and on the other by the spring H, the function of the latter being to hold and guide them in relation to the rails so that they will be delivered properly into the assembler. The parts so far described are or may be substantially the same as those employed in the Model 9 linotype, and in themselvesconstitute no part of my present invention, except as hereinafter specified.

As previously indicated, when matrices of different thickness are employed, and in order to insure their proper delivery, the width of the throat should be varied to correspond. To effect this result automatically, I preferably employ a' depending lever arm J, pivoted at J to the stationary main frame and having its lower end in engagement with the spring H, so that when the arm is swung outwardly, the spring will be moved to widen the throat, and when swung inwardly, the spring narrows it. This swinging is controlled by a cam piece K securedto a downwardly depending portion E of the sliding front E, the arm J being provided with a series of cooperating abutmcnts, corresponding in number and position to the several magazines, so that as each is severally brought into action, the width of the passage will be adjusted to correspond to the matrices contained therein. These abutments are preferably in the -form of screws L, the heads of which are positioned to be engaged by the cam piece K as the latter is moved vertically, each of the screws being independently adjustable with relation to the arm J, so that the extent of movement of the latter by the cam piece may be manually varied at will, and check nuts or pieces L being provided to lock the screws in their adjusted position. It will be seen that in this way the vertical adjustment of the sliding front varies the width of the throat to correspond to the thickness of the matrices stored in the respective magazines, and that the independent capability of adjustment of the screws L enables the parts to be further adjusted to correspond to diii'erent fonts in the individual magazines.

. Obviously the mechanism may be variedin may ways and adapted toidifierent styles of typographical machines. It is not essential that the adjusting means be in the precise form shown, nor that the width of channel be varied by the lateral moyement of the spring. Both in these respects and in others the mechanism may be widely altered. Similarly, it may be applied to other forms of typographical machines, such for instance as th t wherein the magazines are movable, or in fact to such machines when provided with only a single magazine, and wherein it be desired to effect the adjustment manually and not automatically. For instance, in Figs. 4.- and 5 l have shown the adjusting means as comprising only a manually operable screw M arranged to bear against the spring and provided with the locking piece or check nut M As previously stated, I have shown my invention merely in preferred form and by Way of example, and as applied to a linotype machine, but many modifications and alterations therein, and in its mode of adaptation, will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, without departure from its scope.

Having thus described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a typographical machine, assembling mechanism comprising in combination an assembler wherein the line is composed, a throat through which the type or matrices pass to the assembler and having one of its sides m0,,vable toward and from the other to correspond to type or matrices of different thicknesses, and a device mounted in the machine and adjustable at will to vary the width of the throat to the required extent.

2. In a typographical machine, assembling mechanism comprising in combination an assembler wherein the line is composed, a guide along which the type of matrices pass to the assembler, a spring overlying the guide and arranged to be moved toward and from the same to correspond to type or matrices of diiierent thicknesses, and a device mounted in the machine and adjustable at will to move the spring the required extent.

3. In a typographical machine, assembling mechanism comprising in combination an assembler wherein, the line is composed, a guide along which the type or matrices pass to the assembler, a spring overlying the guide and adjustable to di'lierent positions from the same, and means mounted in the machine for holding the spring in its adjusted position.

4. In a typographical machine, the combination of a plurality of sets of type or matrices of different thicknesses, means for selecting one or another of said sets for use, an assembler wherein the type or matrices are composed in line, a throat through which they pass to the assembler, and automatic means for varying the width of the throat to correspond to the selected set of type or matrices.

5. In a typographical machine, the combination of a plurality of sets of type or matrices of diiierent thicknesses, means for selecting one or another of saidsets for use, an assembler wherein the type or matrices are composed in line, a guide along which they pass to the assembler, a spring overlying the guide, and automatic means for moving the spring toward and from the guide to correspond to the selected set of type or matrices.

6. In a typographical machine, the combination of a plurality of sets of type or matrices of different thicknesses. means for se lecting one or another of said sets for use, an assembler wherein the type or matricesare composed in line, a throat through which they pass to the assembler, and automatic means for varying the width of the throat to correspond to the selected set of type or matrices, said means including devices adjustable at will'to vary their extent of action.

7. In a typographical machine, the combination of a plurality of sets of type or matrices of diiferent thicknesses, means for selecting one or another of said sets for use, an assembler wherein the type or matrices are composed in line, a guide along which they pass to the assembler, a spring overlying the guide, and automatic means for moving the spring toward and from the guide to correspond to the selected set of type or matrices, said means including devices adjustable at will to vary-their extent of action.

8. In a typographical machine, the combination of a magazine adapted to be brought into action at will and containing type or matrices of a given thickness, an assembler wherein the type or matrices are composed in line, a throat through which they pass to the assembler, and automatic means for varying the Width of the throat when said magazine is brought into action to correspond to the thickness of the type or matr'ices therein.

9. In a typographical machine, the combination of a magazine to contain the type or matrices and adapted to be brought intothicknesses of type or matrices contained in said magazine.

In testimony whereof, I have 'afiixed my signature in presence of, two witnesses.

EDWIN W. PIER-SON. Witnesses:

CHAS. F. Dom), CHAS. A. OLMSTED. 

